Page 128 of Hush (Fighting Fate)

Knowing not to touch her, I softly called her name. “Kaeli…”

She looked up at me, confusion and shock everywhere. The gun waivered, still pointing at Aaron, but Dad and my brothers were there too.

“Can you give me the gun, baby?”

She looked down at her hands and her eyes widened like she had no idea how it got to be there in the first place.

Dad had Aaron face down on the ground then, and he was howling in pain as he cuffed him. I wanted to be the one to inflict the pain, but I couldn’t. Kaeli needed me.

With slow movements, she brought her hands closer to me, still pointing it at Aaron. Gently, I placed my hand over hers, encouraging her to release her grip. “It’s okay. I’ve got it. You can let go now.”

As she withdrew her hands, I quickly released the magazine and emptied the chamber before tucking it all away in my pants. “Weapon’s secure,” I said quietly so Dad would hear.

Gently, I touched the side of her face. Her gaze flickered between mine and where Aaron was pushed to the ground.

“Noah,” Dad barked. “Now.”

I knew what he was saying. I needed to clear the room before Aaron saw me. It was important he not make any connection between me and Mitch.

But I couldn’t leave Kaeli. I was happy to leave the room, but only if she came with me.

Ignoring Dad, I kept stroking Kaeli’s face. “Baby?” I said in a soft voice. “I’m going to pick you up now, okay?” Her gaze snapped up to mine and she stared deep into my eyes. “Do you trust me?”

She licked her lips and after a moment, she nodded.

Scooping her up, I tucked my arms under her and lifted her up against my chest, then with sure feet, I headed towards the lounge room. We were just about through the door when she wriggled urgently.

“Wait.”

I paused, not sure what she was doing. She wriggled again until I let her feet down to the floor, and then she stepped away from me. I reached for her arm. “Baby, we need to go in here for a bit.”

“Wait,” she said again, this time more forcefully. “I just need to do something.”

Then she was striding away from me, too fast for me to stop her. Isaac frowned as she stepped around him, his gaze darting to me for answers, but I had none. Adam looked up from where he was trying to stem the flow of blood from the fucker, and frowned at her.

Then she kicked Aaron in the gut. Hard. The dude screamed.

“I fucking hate you!” she said through clenched teeth. And then she kicked him again.

I was pretty sure that had been the last thing any of us had expected her to do, so she got in a few good kicks before Adam’s brain clicked into gear and he pulled her away.

To be honest, I would’ve just let her go for a bit longer. I was sure it would’ve been good therapy.

“Come on fire cracker,” Adam said, leading her over to me.

Isaac gave her a pat on the head as she passed. “Nice one, Lina.”

As soon as she was close enough, I pulled her back into my arms. I really just needed to hold her right now. I needed to feel her for myself. Needed to know she was safe.

Leading her over to the sofa, I sat down and pulled her onto my lap, hearing the sound of sirens in the distance. She tucked her legs up and curled into me, burying her face in my chest. I didn’t know what had happened to her shoes. Hopefully one of them was imbedded in Aaron’s body somewhere.

“I should’ve just let you come with me to the bathroom…” she muttered.

The trembling in her body tore at me. “I’m so sorry, baby,” I said. I didn’t know what else to say. I’d failed her.

“No,” she murmured against my chest.

No? What was that supposed to mean? Pulling back a little, I lifted her chin so I could read her eyes.

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